numeral / ordinal number HSK 1
fourth · number four
Meaning
第四 is the ordinal number 'fourth' in Chinese. The character 第 (dì) is a prefix that turns cardinal numbers into ordinal numbers, so 第四 literally means 'the fourth.' It is used to indicate position, rank, or sequence.
Usage
Native speakers use 第四 when counting things in order or ranking items. It commonly appears in contexts like floors of buildings (第四层 'fourth floor'), rankings (第四名 'fourth place'), lessons or chapters (第四课 'Lesson 4'), and dates. Unlike English where 'fourth' can sometimes be omitted, Chinese typically requires 第 when expressing ordinal position.
Examples
- 01我住在第四层。.I live on the fourth floor.
- 02她在比赛中得了第四名。.She got fourth place in the competition.
Characters
Common collocations
- 第四名fourth place
- 第四层fourth floor
- 第四课Lesson 4
- 第四天the fourth day
Origin
The character 第 originally referred to the residence or rank of officials, and evolved to mark ordinal numbers. When combined with 四 (four), it creates the ordinal 'fourth.'